The Yukon's Energy, Mines and Resources minister would not rule out a potential staking moratorium in Ross River Dena Council traditional territory when questioned Wednesday.

In the legislature, Sandy Silver, the interim Liberal leader, noted the impending Dec. 27 deadline for the government to meet the Yukon Court of Appeal ruling regarding consultation in Ross River traditional territory.

The court ruled that the government had both an obligation to consult prior to any class 1 mining activity and prior to staking.

Amendments to both the Placer and Quartz Mining Acts have been tabled to allow the government to address the first part of the court order.

However, discussions are ongoing with Ross River regarding the second obligation.

"There are only six weeks or so left in the deadline the minister says he must meet, and there is no agreement in place so far with Ross River,” Silver said during question period.

"A session at the Geoscience Forum on this very subject was cancelled at the last minute because there was no progress to report,” Silver noted.

"After this court decision was announced last December, the government was given 12 months to come up with a solution.

"Instead of getting to work, the government decided to appeal and to wait until it was told ‘no' in September, even before talking with Ross River. Nine out of the 12 months were lost, and now we're down to about six weeks left to reach an agreement,” the Klondike MLA continued.

He then asked what outstanding issues remain to be resolved.

"As far as the discussions at the table, it has always been my experience that it's best to leave officials from both parties to have those discussions with respect to this,” EMR Minister Scott Kent responded.

"It is identifying those lands within the Ross River area that will not be available for staking.

"The court decision did not question the free-entry system and the Yukon government is not questioning it either, but those discussions need to take place and we need to allow them to develop at the table, rather than engaging in speculation here on the floor of the assembly,” the minister added.

Silver went on to ask Kent if a staking moratorium is being considered.

"I don't think it's fair to speculate on the discussions that are taking place on a government-to-government basis between the Yukon government and the Ross River Dena Council with respect to which lands are going to be identified to be withdrawn from staking,” Kent responded.

He then took a shot at Silver for calling on the government to extend the staking ban in the Peel River watershed, while raising concerns about a moratorium in the Ross River territory.

See letter.